Taylor Hanson discusses his latest project: areyoulistening.com

Areyoulistening.com is a website dedicated to supporting independent artists and is designed to form an arena for artists and fans to connect and share their musical interests while staying away from the corporate nature of major labels. Some bands supporting the site include Broken Social Scene, Adam Green and David Garza.

The site was started by Hanson (yes, the blonde-haired boys who brought us “MmmBop” in 1997). While the band’s past success has no relevance to the nature of the beast that is “indie,” consider their situation and you’ll find a band who’s in a similar predicament as the most obscure band you know. Things have change for them too.

October 11, 2005

MmmBack: Hanson promotes independent music, record labels at OSU

Hanson was at OSU to hold a screening of its new documentary in the Student Union Theater. The documentary, “Strong Enough to Break”, is a self-produced documentary that captures the creative music process of the band. The band said the ultimate goal of its visit was to empower and educate their peers about independent labels and the struggles many bands go through today.

Oklahoma State University is one of many college campuses Hanson is scheduled to visit this fall. The documentary will be shown at about 25 college campuses in conjunction with its “Live and Electric” tour as well as its opening band contest. Taylor Hanson said the documentary is being shown in the United States and in theaters in Europe and Mexico.

April 20, 2005

A Girl for Taylor and Natalie Hanson

Taylor and Natalie Hanson welcomed their second child, a girl, Penelope Hanson on April 19th. Word is they will call her Ellie.

Their son, Ezra, is 2.

Can I just say how old this makes me feel, that the Hansons are reproducing already?

April 6, 2005

MMMBOP! Hanson Grow Up

Brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac, as the boy band Hanson, shot to fame in 1997 with pop classic Mmm Bop. Now at the grand old ages of 19, 22 and 24 respectively, they’re back in the charts.

They talked to Sky about how that single changed their young lives, how Mmm Bop is one of Bono’s favourite songs, and how they’re getting on as adult musicians.